Dump bailer



June 2, 1953 R, C. BAKER 2,640,548`

DUMP BAILER Filed NOV. 22, 195@ I N VEN TOR.

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Patentedv `lune 2, 1953 DUMP BAILER YReuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assigner to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., acorporation of California Application May 22, 1950, Serial No. 163,451

13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to devices for running and dumping substances, such as cementitious materials, in Well bores.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dump bailer capable of being run in a Well bore on a wire line, or other running-in string, and in which the contents of the bailer can be released and deposited in the well bore in a simple and eiective manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dump bailer that .can be assembled easily and placed readily in closed condition for reception of the substance to be dumped in the well bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dump bailer having a simple latch or lock device for holding the dump bailer closed, which device is easily released to open the bailer for deposit of its contents into the well bore. In its more limited aspects, the latch or lock device is released merely as an incident of the bailer coming to rest upon another object or obstruction in the well bore, allowing subsequent elevation of the wire line, or other running-n string, to-open the bailer and release its contents.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dump bailer, in which the danger of fouling the bailer or premature dumping of its contents is largely minimized.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objectswhich may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This formis shown in the drawings accompanying and -forming ypart of the present specification. It wllnow be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation and sectional view of a dump bailer attached to a wire line, with its partsin closed position, the bailer being arranged for running in a well casing or well bore;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the bottom or lower portionof the bailer, with .the `parts in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, with the bailer bottom portion in open position;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along the line 4-4 on Fig. 2.

The bailer A illustrated in the drawing -is connectible to a `suitable running-in string, such as a Wire line B, for lowering into a well bore C and for dumping the contents of the bailer therein at a particular location. The bailer is placed in closed position at the top of the hole and remains in closed position until it Astrikes an obstruction D in the well bore. When this occurs, the bailer is automatically released from its locked position, so that elevation of the wire line B opens the lower `portion of the bailer'and lallows its contents to dump into the well hole.

The bailer A includes a suitable container l@ for the cementitious material, or othersubstance, the upper end'oi which ina-y be threaded, or otherwise attached, onto a head I I'secured to the -lower end of the wire line B, 'which ventends to the top of the well bore. The container iii may be oi the desired length, to hold the required volume of material to -be deposited in the well bore, and may be made up of oneor a plurality ofY tubular sections.

The upper por-tion of the container 'adjacent the head Il has a large opening or window lf2 through which the cementitious material, or-other substance, can be dumped into the container. The lower lportion ofthe container isconstituted as abailer bottom i3 threaded onto the lower end I4 of a tubular container joint. This bailer bottom includes lan inner imperiorate sleeve I5 having an upper box portion I6 threaded onto the lower container joint. This sleeveextends and is telescoped in slidable relation downwardly into an outer sleeve i7 having a -rounded -or curved lower guide portion i8 for preventing `hanging up or fouling of the bailer in the well bore, and to insure that the bailer will release'at the desired point inthe well bore at which its contents are to be dumped.

The outersleeve has afplurality of circumferentially spaced apertures or windows 'i9 formed therein, preferably of substantial extent. Each window is bounded by top `and 'bottom side walls 29, 2|, the left-hand portion 22 of the bottom Wall, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, being inclined in an upward direction toward lthe left to form a cam surface, for a purpose Yt0 be described below. Extending from the left side wall -23 of each w-indow i9, and into such window, is a Vhooi: portion 24 of the sleeve, that is generally-parallel to the inclined portion 2.2 ofthe lbottom 21, and spaced therefrom a distance that is slightly greater than the diameter of a vpin `25l extending into the inclined slotY 28 formed between the hook `4 and inclined surface, and threaded into the inner sleeve 15;.

When the 4pins 25 are disposed -under the hooks 24, the lower end 2l of the inner sleeve l5 is 1ocated substantially below the bottom walls 2| of the apertures I9, closing the apertures and preventing the contents of the container I from dropping therefrom and into the well bore. The lower guide I8 serves to close the lower end of the inner sleeve Il, and insures the retention of the container contents until they are to be deposited in the well bore. Leakage from the container I0 is prevented by a suitable seal ring 28, such as a round rubber ring, in a peripheral groove 29 in the lower portion of the inner sleeve engaging the inner wall of the outer sleeve I'I below its windows I5.

The parts are assembled as disclosed in Figs. l and 2, with all of the pins 25disposed in the inclined slot portions 28 under'the hooks 24 in the outer sleeve I'I, in which position the windows I9 are all closed. The cementitious material or other substance is then deposited in the container Ill through its upper opening E2 and the loaded bailer lowered in the well bore or casing by means of the wire line B. The weight of the contents of the container is imposed upon the outer sleeve H by bearing upon its bottom portion I8, and tends to hold the outer sleeve I8 in a downward position relative to the inner sleeve I 5, or in closed position during lowering of the bailer in the well rbore. The weight of the material, therefore, serves to prevent premature opening of the bailer by holding the hooks 24 disposed around the pins 25.

When the bailer reaches the bottom D of the well bore, or some other obstruction in the well bore, such as a bridge plug (not shown), or previously deposited cementitious material, the lower guide I 8 comes to rest upon such obstruction. As the wire line B is lowered to a greater extent, the head II, container joints and inner sleeve I are also lowered, the inner sleeve I5 moving downwardly within the stationary outer sleeve I'I. This action causes the pins secured to the inner sleeve I5 to engage the inclined cam faces 22 at the bottom portions of the windows I9. Because of the inclination of these faces, the downward movement of the inner sleeve I5 cams the pins 25 to the right (as seen in Figs. 1 and 3) effecting turning of the sleeve I5 and disposition of the pins 25 into the wide portions of the windows, or to the right of the hooks 24. The wire line may now be elevated, which pulls the container I0 and the inner sleeve I5 upwardly with respect to the outer sleeve I'I, the pins 25 being out of alignment with the hooks 24 and offering no restraint to such elevation. Such elevation can occur until the pins 25 strike the top walls 20 of the windows, in which position the lower end 2'I of the inner sleeve I5 is disposed a substantial distance above the bottoms 2l of the windows, opening the latter and allowing the cementitious contents of the container I0 to dump therefrom into the well bore. The wire line B and bailer A can now be raised slowly until substantially all of the contents oi the bailer have been deposited in the well bore C, whereupon the bailer can be elevated and removed from the hole.

It is to be noted that the lowermost portion 22a of each inclined face 22 extends laterally to one side, as to the right, of the lowermost portion 24a of the hook 24, and that the outer end 24h of the latter is inclined in an upward direction toward the right side wall 38 of each window.- This arrangement insures that each pin 25 will not engage the inclined lower surface of the hook 24 when the inner sleeve I5 is elevated within the outer sleeve I'I, since the pin is then disposed to 4 one side of the hook. At most, the pin may engage the inclined outer end 2Gb of each hook, which will merely tend to cam the pin further over to the right and insure its location and retention in the wide portion of the window I9. Accordingly, there is no interference by the hooks 24 with elevation of the inner sleeve I5 within the outer sleeve I'I, when the windows I9 are to be opened, and the contents ofthe bailer dumped into the well bore.

As assurance against inadvertent and premature opening of the apertures or windows I9 while the bailer is fbeing run in the well bore, a shear screw 3 I, or similar frangible device, may threadedly connect the inner and outer sleeves I5, I'I. The diameter of each pin 25 is substantially less than the width of each inclined slot 26, so as not to interfere with downward movement of the inner sleeve I5 within the outer sleeve II to the extent suicient to shear the screw 3l. Such downward movement can occur when the guide I8 strikes an obstruction D in the well bore. If necessary, after the obstruction is reached, the wire line B and bailer A may be elevated and dropped against the obstruction D, which will insure shearing of the screw 3! and engagement of the pins 25 with the inclined faces 22, to cam or turn them into the wide portion of the windows I9, where they will not interfere with upward movement of the inner sleeve I5 within the outer sleeve I'I.

It is apparent that a simple dump bailer has been devised, in which the weight of the material tends to hold the bailer in closed position during its lowering in the well bore, and which can be easily unlocked, merely as an incident of lowering the inner sleeve I5 within the outer sleeve I'I, after the latter has engaged a well bore obstruction D. It is unnecessary to effect any turning of the bailer parts to unlock the pins 25 from the hooks 24, which permits the bailer to be run in the well bore on the wire line B in a very rapid manner. The bailer is easily locked in closed position simply by disposing the pins 25 under the hooks 24, and is easily assemblable, since nothing more is required than to mount the outer sleeve over the inner sleeve and then thread the pins 25 into the inner sleeve. Disassembly is also accomplished in a simple manner by removing the pins 25 from the inner sleeve, which allows the bailer to be cleaned without diiculty. The rounded portion I 3 of the bailer insures its being guided properly in the well casing or well bore, whereas such closed lower portion, in conjunction with the weight of the contents of the container I0, guards against premature release of the locking vportions 24, 25 of the bailer and opening of its apertures I9.

The inventor claims:

l. In a dump bailer: first and second members slidably telescoped one within the other; means for connecting one of said members to a running-in string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; said first member having an aperture; releasable inter-engageable lock elements on said members for holding said second member in a position with respect to said rst member closing said aperture; and means on one of said members engageable with a lock element on the other of said members to release said lock mem` string to be elevated by the running-in string relative Nto the'othe'r of said'n'renibers *to .position opening said aperture.

"2.. In a dump bailer: first vand second members slidably 'telescoped :one within the othermeans ioroonnecting oneoi said members toa runningi-n string for `lowering said bailer `a well bore; saidv first member having .an aperture; releasable inter-engageabie lock elements "on `saidmen'lbers for holding said second' member in a position with respect `te said iirst meniberi :closingsaid aperture; and a cam on one of said members engageable with 1a look elementonrthe other'yjof said members to shift :said lock element'laterally from engaging position with a ycompanion dock element on said one member, upon loweringroi said one of said members to vbe eonr-iei'ztedite the running-in Vstring reiative to the otherof said members,l to'allow said one of said "members to be connected to the ruiming-in string to be .elevated by the running-in string .relative toA the other of said members to 'a position opening said aperture.

3. In a dump bailar: inner and outer members slidably telescoped one lwithin the other; means for 'connecting said inner'member'to a runningin string for lowering-said'bailer'in a `well bore; said outer member having .an aperture; releasable inter-engageable look elements on' said membersV for holdingV said vinner member in a lower position within said outer member closing said aperture; and .means on one of said niembers engageable with a look element -on the other of said members to release said lock elements from engaging relation with each other, upon loweringof said inner yrnen'iber within said outer member, to allow `said inner member to be elevated by the. running-in string relative to .said outer member toY la position `opening said aperture.

4. In a dump bailer: inner and outer members slidably telescoped one within the other; means for connecting said inner member to a runningin string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; said outer member having an aperture; releasable inter-engageable look elements on said members for holding said inner member in a lower position within said outer member closing said aperture; and a cam on one of said members engageable with a lock element on the other of said members to shift said lool; element laterally from engaging position with a companion lock element on said one member, upon lowering of said inner member within said outer member, to allow said inner member to be elevated by the running-in string relative to the outer member to a position opening said aperture.

5. In a dump bailer: an upper member connectible to a running-in string for lowering said bailer in a well bore, said upper member having an open lower end; a lower member in slidable telescopio relation to said upper member, said lower member being closed at its lower portion; one oi said members having a side aperture above said lower portion; releasable inter-engageable look elements on said members i'or holding the other of said members in a position closing said aperture; and means on one of said members engageable with a look element on the other of said members to release said lool; elements from engaging relation with each other, upon lowering of said upper member relative to said lower member, to allow said upper member to be shifted by the running-in string relative to said lower member to a position opening said aperture.

6; In a? 'dump bailer: :anV upperfmember: een# neot'ible toi a .rimningin string vfor lowering-said bailer in a 'well boreia' lower member in slidable telescopic: relation to said upper members` said lower. member being closed at its lower portion: one; .of said members l'lavinga side aperture above: :said 'lowerv portion.; releasable interengageable lool;v `elerrrents on* said members 'for holding the other 'oi said members ina position closirrgsaid aperture; andra cam on one 'of said membersensageablefwith a lockfelement ron `the ctherxof nsaid members .to-.shift said lock element laterally from engagingposition wit-har companion look element .on Ysaid `one member, 'upon lowering of said upper memberrelativeato said lower member, toV allow saidv upperA member te be elevatedv by the running-ein string relative to the lowerv member to -a position opening said aperture. f

7. Ina dump baiier: rirst and second'members slidably telescoped rone within the other; means forconnectingone of said members to tarunningin string for lowering said bailer-in a well bore; said iirst' member having an aperture; one :of said members ha-ving a look slot; a ,pin `on the other of .said'members positionable in sa-idslot-to hold saidfsecond,mernber in -a position with `re spect to said iirst member 'closing 'said aperture; andmeans on said 4member having the slot engagea'blewith said pin to -shift'said'p'in from said slot, upon loweringfof said one 'member togb'e connected to the running-instring relative to the other member, 'toallow said. 'one of lsaidmembers tov be :connected to the running-iin string I'to be elevated 'by the runningin string relative tothe other member :to afpositi'on openingsaid aperture.

'8. In a dump bailer: first and second'members slidably. telescoped one within the other; means for connecting one of said members to a runningin string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; said rst member having an aperture; one of said members having a lock slot; a pin on the other of said members positionable in said slot to hold said second member in a position with respect to said first member closing said aperture; and cam means on said member having the slot engageable with said pin to shift said pin laterally from said slot, upon lowering of said one member to be connected to the running-in string relative to the other member, to allow said one of said members to be connected to the runningin string to be elevated by the running-in string relative to the other member to a position opening said aperture.

9. In a dump bailer: iirst and second members slidably telescoped one within the other; means for connecting one of said members to a runningin string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; said rst member having an aperture; one of said members having a lock slot bounded by a lower inclined surface; a pin on the other of said members positionable in said slot to hold said second member in a position with respect to said rst member closing said aperture; said pin engaging said inclined surface of said slot, upon lowering of said one member to be connected to the running-in string relative to the other member, to be shifted laterally out of said slot to a position allowing said one of said members to be connected to the running-in string to be shifted by the running-in string upwardly relative to the other member to open said aperture.

10. In a dump bailer: an upper member connectible to a running-in string for lowering said bailer in a Well bore; a lower member in slidable telescopic relation to said upper member, said lower member being closed at its lower portion; said lower member having a side aperture above its lower portion, as well as a lock slot bounded by a lower inclined surface; a pin secured to said upper member and positionable in said slot to hold said members in a location with respect to each other closing said aperture; said pin engaging said inclined surface upon lowering of said upper member relative to said lower member to be cammed laterally out of said slot to a position allowing said upper member to be elevated by the running-in string with respect to said lower member and open said aperture.

11. In a dump bailer: an upper member connectible to a running-in string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; a lower member in slidable telescopic relation to said upper member, said lower member being closed at its lower portion; said lower member having a side aperture above its lower portion as well as a lock slot bounded by a lower inclined surface, said slot opening into said aperture; a pin secured to said upper member and positionable in said slot to hold said members in a location with respect t-o each other closing said aperture; said pin engaging said inclined surface upon lowering of the upper member relative to said member to be cammed laterally out of said slot and into said aperture, allowing said upper member to be elevated by the running-in string with respect to said lower member and open said aperture.

12. In a dump bailer: first and second members slidably telescoped one within the other; means for connecting one of said members to a running-in string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; said rst member having an aperture, as well as a lock slot bounded by a lower inclined surface and opening into said aperture; a pin on said second member positionable in said slot to hold said second member in a position with re-1 spect to said rst member closing said aperture; said pin engaging said inclined surface of said slot upon lowering of said second member relative to the first member to be cammed laterally out of said slot and into said aperture, allowing said one of said members to be elevated by the running-in string to a position opening said aperJ ture.

13. In a dump bailer: an inner member connectible to a running-in string for lowering said bailer in a well bore; an outer member in slidable telescopic relation to said inner member, said outer member being closed at its lower portion and having a side aperture above said lower portion, as Well as a lock slot bounded by a lower inclined surface and which opens into said aperture; a pin secured to said inner member and positionable in said slot to hold said inner member in a closed location over said aperture; said pin engaging said inclined surface upon lowering of said inner member relative to said outer member to be cammed laterally out of said slot and into said aperture, allowing said inner member to be elevated by the running-in string with respect to said outer member to open said aperture.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,003,874 Casper Sept. 11, 1911 1,406,329 Baker Feb. 14, 1922 1,487,721 Clayton Mar. 25, 1924 2,070,982 Candee Feb. 16, 1937 

